Harris



Feb. 2l, 1956 2,735,224

J. R. ESTEY ADJUSTABLE LATI-1 HOSE Filed NOV. l2, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l /NVe/vTo/e. JAA/15s ROYDe/v ESTEY a Fby Feb- 21, 1956 J. R( EsTEY 2,735,224

ADJUSTABLE LATH HOSE Filed NOV. 12, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JAA/1.55 RoYoE/v ESTEY BY H/5 HTTORNEYS.

United States .Patent ADJUSTABLE LATH HOUSE James Royden Estey, South Pasadena, Calif., assigner to Aluminex Incorporated, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application November 12, 1952, Serial No. 31%57 1l) Claims. (Cl. S7-26) The present invention relates in general to lath houses and, more particularly, to an adjustable lath house by means of which the amount of sunlight and/or rainfall entering the interior of the lath house may be controlled readily, a primary object of the invention being to provide a lath house of this nature.

More particularly, a primary object of the invention is to provide a lath house which includes stationary lath panels each comprising spaced, parallel laths and which includes movable lath panels adjacent and parallel to the stationary lath panels and each panel comprising spaced, parallel laths, the movable lath panels being movable between positions wherein the laths thereof are in register with the laths of the stationary lath panels and positions wherein the laths thereof are in register with the spaces between the laths of the stationary lath panels, thereby varying the amount of rainfall and/or sunlight entering the interior of the lath house between a maximum and a minimum.

An important object of the invention is to provide a mounting means for each movable lath panel which produces a component of movement thereof toward the corresponding stationary lath panel concurrently with a component of movement of the movable lath panel from the position wherein its laths register with the laths of the stationary lath panel to the position wherein its laths are in register with the spaces between the laths of the stationary lath panel. Such component movement of the movable lath panel toward the stationary lath panel concurrently with its component movement parallel thereto results in insertion of the laths of the movable lath panel into the spaces between the laths of the stationary lath panel to provide virtually complete exclusion of rainfall and/or sunlight from the interior of the lath house, which .is an important feature.

Another object is to provide a lath house wherein each movable lath panel is connected to the corresponding stationary lath panel by means of pivoted links to pro- -duce such movement of the movable lath panel toward the stationary lath panel concurrently with movement of .the movable lath panel in a direction parallel to the stationary lath panel. Thus, as the movable lath panel is swung in a direction to move the laths thereof into regis- 4ter with the spaces between the laths of the stationary lath panel, the laths of the movable lath panel are in- .serted between the laths of the stationary lath panel at .the same time, which is an important feature.

Another object is to provide a mounting means for each movable lath panel which comprises track means fixed relative to one of the panels and track follower means fixed relative to the other of the panels and engaging the track means, the track means and the track follower means being relatively movable to provide for movement of the movable lath panel relative to the stationary lath panel.

Other objects of the invention are to provide tracks on the movable lath panels which are engageable by rollers lixed relative to the stationary lath panel and to provide tracks fixed relative to the stationary lath panels which are engageable by slides on the movable lath panels.

Another object is to provide a lath panel comprising a pair of spaced, parallel frame elements and comprising a plurality of spaced, parallel laths extending between and connected at their ends to such frame elements, the frame elements preferably being rods or tubes around which the ends of the laths are looped.

Another object is to provide laths of channel-shaped cross section which face outwardly relative to the interior of the lath house, the outward direction being upward in the cases of those laths which provide the roof of the lath house. With this construction, any rainfall incident on the laths is collected thereby and conveyed to suitable points of disposal, thereby minimizing the amount of rainfall entering the interior of the lath house so that the amount of water applied to plants, or the like, being cultivated within the lath house may be precisely controlled.

The foregoingrobjects of the present invention, together with various other objects and advantages thereof which will become apparent, may be attained with the exemplary embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in detail hereinafter. Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary isometric view of a lath house which embodies the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view on an enlarged scale which is taken along the arrowed line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the arrowed line 3 3 of Fig. 2 and illustrating the closed position of a movable lath panel of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating the open position of the movable lath panel;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale which is taken along the arrowed line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an edge view of a double lath panel structure which embodies the invention;

Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged views respectively taken along the arrowed lines 7 7 and 8 8 of Fig. 6, Fig. 7 being a sectional view and Fig. 8 being a fragmentary end View;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating another embodiment of the invention;

Figs. 10 and 11 are fragmentary sectional views respectively taken along the arrowed lines 10 10 and 11 11 0f Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating still another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view duplicating a portion of Fig. l2 on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along the arrowed line 14 14 of Fig. 12; and

Figs. 15 and 16 are isometric views illustrating panelsecuring brackets of the invention.

Referring particularly to Fig. l of the drawings, illustrated therein is a lath house which includes a frame 15 erected on a foundation 16, a wall 17 and a roof 18 being mounted on the frame. While the present invention may be incorporated in either the wall 17 or the roof 1S of the lath house, or both, it is preferably incorporated in the roof 18 only for most applications and will be so considered herein for convenience in illustration.

The roof 18 includes .a stationary lath panel 21 comprising two spaced, parallel frame elements 22 extending longitudinally of the panel along opposite edges thereof, these frame elements preferably being rods or tubes. Extending between and connected at their ends to the respective rods 22 are spaced, parallel laths 23, the widths of the laths being substantially equal to the widths of the spaces therebetween. The laths 23 are of channel- Yshaped cross section and face outwardly relative to the .connected to the rods 22 by loopingthe ends thereof Varound the respective rods in the manner more fully dis- Aclosed in my copending application Serial No. 112,623, jiiled August 26, 1949, now Patent No. 2,676,433.

stationary lath panel 21 is mounted on the frame 15 The in any suitable manner, as by connecting the rods 22 thereof to brackets 24.

Disposed beneath and parallel to the stationary lath panel 21 is a movable lath panel 27, this lath panel being similar to the stationary lath panel and comprising spaced, parallel, longitudinal frame elements or rods 28 and a plurality of spaced, parallel laths 29 extending between the rods and connected at their ends thereto. The widths ofthe laths 29 are substantially equal to the widths of the spaces therebetween and are preferably equal to the widths of the laths 23.

The invention' provides means 30 for mounting the movable lath panel 27 for movement relative to the staltionary lath panel 21 in a direction normal to the laths V23 and 29 of the panels from an open position wherein the laths of the movable lath panel are in register with the laths of the stationary lath panel to a closed posi- ,tion wherein the Vlaths of the movable lath panel are in register with the spaces between the laths of the stationary lath panel, the mounting means 30 being adapted to vmove the movable lath panel toward the stationary lath -panel concurrently with movement of the movable lath -panel from its open position to its closed position so as tend to insert the laths 29 of the movable lath panel -into the spaces between the laths 23 of the stationary lath panel. Thus, when the movable lath panel 27 is in its closed position, as shown in solid lines in Fig. 2 of -the drawings, maximum and virtually complete rainfall and sunlight exclusion is obtained. As is the case with the laths 23 of the stationary lath panel 21, the laths 29 of `the movable lath panel 27 are preferably channelshaped in cross section and-face outwardly of the lath house, i. e. upwardly, so that any rainfall incident thereon is collected and conveyed to one edge of the roof.

`Considering the mounting means 30 in more detail,

it comprises a plurality of angular links 33 each of which -vis pivotally connected at its upper end to one of the rods 22 of the stationary lath panel 21,-as by a pin 34, andeach lment of the movable lath panel 27, which occurs concurrently with the horizontal displacement thereof, produces a tendency toward insertion of the laths 29 of the movable lath panel into the spaces between-the laths 23 Aof the stationary lath panel 21 to provide maximum exclusion of sunlight and/or rainfall. Thus, the user of the lath house can regulate the amount of sunlightand/ or rainfall admitted between maximum and minimum limits with a high degree of precision, which is an important feature. Any suitable means, not shown, for actuating the movable lath panel 27, i. e., for moving the movable lath panelbetween its open and closedpositions, may be employed. An actuating means is indicated symbolically by the arrow 36 in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

For convenience in manufacture, the stationary lath panel 21 and the movable lath panel 27 are preferably fabricated in sections laid end to end alongthe direction of movement of the movable lathn panel, twosuch sections of the movable lath panel being illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings and being identified by the nistence characters 27a.J The sections 27a may be of any convenient dimensions and a number of such sections sufficient to produce a movable lath panel 27 of, for example, 100 feet in length may be utilized. The stationary lath panel 21 is preferably made up of registering sections 21a of similar size. In order to compensate for variations in the spacings between the sections 21a of the stationary lath panel 21 which may be necessitated by the character of the frame 15, the invention provides adjusting means 40 for adjusting the spacings between the sections 27a of the movable lath panel 27 to match the spacings between the sections 21a.

Considering the adjusting means 49, one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 5 of the drawings, each includes a screw or bolt 41 having ahead 42'clamped against an angle bracket 43 by a nut 44. The bracket 43 is secured to a spacing strip 45 and to one of the lathsd2'9 by a screw 46, each of the panel sections 27a preferably being provided with at least two of the spacing strips 45 secured to the lath 29 to maintain them in the desired spaced relation. The other end of the bolt 41 extends through an identical bracket 43 on the other panel Section 27a, this bracket 43 being secured to the other panel section 27a by means of another screwV 46 extending through the corresponding spacing strip 45 and lath 29. The bolt 41 is secured relative to the left panel section 27a of Fig. 5 by means of two nuts 47 respectively disposed on opposite sides of the bracket 43. As will be apparent, the spacing between the panel sections 27a in Fig. 5 may be adjusted as required by suitably positioning the nuts 47 along the bolt 41. Thus, by suitably adjusting the various adjusting means 4t), the desired spacings between panel sections 27a may be obtained throughout the length of the movable lath panel 27 so as to match the spacings between the corresponding panel sections v21a of the stationary lath panel 21, which is an important feature.

Referring to Figs. `6 to 8 of the drawings, the numeral 5,1 identifies a stationary lath panel which is generally similarV tothe stationary lath panel 21 and `which ymay -be secured `to any suitable lath house frame, not shown, the panel 51 comprising spaced, parallel rods or tubes 52 and comprising a plurality of spaced, parallel laths 53 which extend between and are connected at their ends tothe rods, respectively. The lathsk53 aresimilar Ito `the laths 23 and 29 described previously.

Disposed below the stationary lath panel 51 is a movable lath panel 54 which is similar to the movable lath panel-27, the panel 54 comprising a pair of spaced, parallel rods or tubes-55 and comprising ,a plurality of spaced, parallellaths 56 extending between and connected at their ends'to the respective rods. The laths 56 are also similar to the laths 23 and 29.

The movablelath panel54 is movably mounted relative to the stationary lath panel 51 by a mounting-means which includes track means 61 on the stationarylath panel/51 and track follower means 62 on the movable lath panel 54. 'The track means 61 is shown as comprising tracks -63 which are of generally elliptical cross section and each of which is provided with a slot 64 in its lower surface, the tracks 63 extending in directions normal tothe laths 53 and 56. Each track 63 isconnected to the stationary lath panel S1 by bolts v65, each bolt 65 vextending through the corresponding track 63 and through a clip 66 which ,clamps one of the laths-'53 of the stationary lath panel 51 between itself andthe corresponding track, as best shown in Figs. 6vand 48. The track follower means 62 comprises slides 67 which are shown as secured yto the rods 55 ofthe movable lath panel S4 by bolts 68. The slides 67,-.which are preferably formed of a plasticmaterialsucb ,y as nylon, areprovided with grooves'` 69 therein .-which receive the `edges l of the slots 64'in the tracks 63, as best 'shown'inlig 7.

,- atadas/i With this construction, the slides 67 are freely movable along the tracks 63.

As will be apparent, the movable lath panel 54 may be removed horizontally, as viewed in the drawings, relative to the stationary lath panel 51 to move the laths 56 of the movable lath panel from positions wherein they register with the lath 53 of the stationary lath panel, as shown in Fig. 6, to closed positions wherein they register with the spaces between the laths 53 of the stationary lath panel. In this manner, the amount of rainfall and/or sunlight admitted to the interior of a lath house with which this structure is used may be varied between a maximum and a minimum. Any suitable actuating means for the movable lath panel 54 may be employed, such actuating means being indicated symbolically by the arrow 70.

Referring now to Figs. 9 to 11 of the drawings, the numeral 75 indicates a portion of the frame of a lath house, a stationary lath panel 76, similar to the stationary lath panel 21 and comprising rods or tubes 77 and laths 7S, being connected to the frame by disposing the rods in slots 79 n bracket members 80 bolted or otherwise secured to the frame. Only one of the rods 77 and brackets 80 is visible in the drawings. Below the stationary lath panel 76 is a movable lath panel 83 which is similar to the movable lath panel 27 and which .comprises rods or tubes 84 and laths S5. The lath panel S3 also includes two or more inverted channels 86 suitably secured to the lower sides of the laths 85 thereof to space them apart, only one of the rods 84 and channels 85 being shown in the drawings.

Connected to the frame 7S by means of a clamp 89 engaging a bolt 90 on the frame is a rod 91 having at its upper end a generally horizontal shaft portion 92 which carries a roller 93 disposed in the channel 86 shown, the channel thus serving as a track means and the roller as a track follower means. As best shown in Fig. 10, an elongated loop 94 encloses the roller 93 and is secured at its ends to the channel 86 shown, this loop acting as a means to limit horizontal movement of the movable lath panel 83. lt will be understood that two or more rollers 93 and associated elements are provided for each track channel 86.

As will be apparent, if a horizontal force is applied to the movable lath panel 83, as viewed in Fig. l of the drawings, the track channels 86 move along the associated rollers 93, within the limits imposed by the loops 94, to move the movable lath panel 83 from an open position wherein the laths 85 thereof are in register with the laths 7S of the stationary lath panel to a closed position wherein the laths S thereof are in register with the spaces between the laths 78 of the stationary lath panel, thereby varying the amount of admitted sunlight and/ or rainfall between a maximum and a minimum. Again, any suitable actuating means for the movable lath panel S3 may be employed, such an actuating means being indicated symbolically by the arrow 95.

Referring now to Figs. l2 to 14 of the drawings, the numeral 101 designates a portion of a lath house frame and the numeral 102 designates a stationary lath panel similar to the stationary lath panel 21 and comprising rods or tubes 103 and laths 104, the lath panel 102 being held in place by disposing the rods 103 thereof in slots 105 in brackets 106. Only one of the rods 103 and one of the brackets 106 are shown. Below the stationary lath panel 102 is a movable lath panel 109 which is similar to the movable lath panel 27 and which includes rods or tubes 110 and laths 111, only one of the rods 110 being shown. Each rod 110 serves as a track means and is engageable with a track follower means comprising two or more rollers 112 mounted in brackets 113 on the frame 101 for rotation about substantially vertical axes, only one of the rollers being shown.

'As will be apparent, the movable lath panel 109 may be' `moved relative to the stationary lath panel 102 between an open position wherein the laths of the movable panel are in register with the laths of the stationary panel, and a closed position wherein the laths of the movable panel are in register with the spaces between the laths of the stationary panel, an actuating means for so moving the movable panel being indicated symbolically by the arrow 114.

Referring to Fig. 15 of the drawings, illustrated therein Vis a bracket 121 for securing a pair of lath panels together, this bracket being adapted to be secured to a frame and having therein an elongated slot 122 adapted to receive therein two rods, not shown, of adjacent lath panels. The slot 122 is closed after the rods are inserted thereinto by bending two tabs 123 at the mouth of the slot into the positions shown in Fig. 15. A generally similar bracket 124 is shown in Fig. 16, this bracket being provided with two rod receiving openings 125 adapted to be closed by bending tabs 126 thereof into closed positions. The left tab in Fig. 16 is shown in its open position and the right tab is shown in its closed position.

Although l have disclosed exemplary embodiments of my invention herein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention as dened by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a lath house, the combination of a stationary lath panel comprising a plurality of spaced, parallel laths; a movable lath panel adjacent and parallel to said stationary lath panel and comprising a plurality of spaced, parallel laths, said laths of said movable lath panel being parallel to said laths of said stationary lath panel; and means mounting said movable lath panel for movement relative to said stationary lath panel in a transverse direction relative to said laths of said panels from a position wherein said laths of said movable lath panel are in register with said laths of said stationary lath panel to a position wherein said laths of said movable lath panel are in registry with the spaces between said laths of said stationary lath panel, said movable lath panel comprising a plurality of sections arranged end to end and extending in the direction of movement thereof, said lath house including adjustable means interconnecting said sections of said movable lath panel for adjusting the spacings of said sections.

2. In a lath house, the combination of: a frame; a stationary lath panel comprising a pair of spaced, parallel frame elements connected to said frame and comprising a plurality of spaced, parallel laths extending between and connected at their ends to said frame elements; a movable lath panel adjacent and parallel to said stationary lath panel and comprising a pair of spaced, parallel frame elements and a plurality of spaced, parallel laths extending between and connected at their ends to said frame elements of said movable lath panel, said frame elements of said movable lath panel being parallel to said frame elements of said stationary lath panel and said laths of said movable lath panel being parallel to said laths of said stationary lath panel; and a plurality of links pivotally connecting said movable lath panel to said stationary lath panel, each of said links being pivotally connected at one end to one of said frame elements of said stationary lath panel and being pivotally connected at its other end to the corresponding frame element of said movable lath panel, whereby said movable lath panel is movable relative to said stationary lath panel from a position wherein said laths of said movable lath panel are in register with said laths of said stationary lath panel to a position wherein said laths of said movable lath panel are in register with the spaces between the laths of said stationary lath panel, and whereby said movable lath panel moves toward said stationary lath panel in response to movement of said movable lath panel from the position first defined to the position last defined.

3. A lath house as defined in claim 2 wherein the widths sfseidlaths sf Said. statieaafyleth Pensi are Substantially equal to vthe widths of the 'spacesbetweep said laths of said stationary'lath panel and wherein thewidths of said laths ofsaidplovable lath panel are substantially equal to the widths of said laths of saidstationary lath panel and to the widths of the spaces between the laths of said movable lath panel. Y A

4. A lath house as detined in claim 3 wherein said laths are of channel-shaped cross section and face outwardly relative to the interior of said lath house.

5. A lath house accordingto claim 4'wherein said frame elements are rods and wherein the ends of said laths are secured to said rods by looping same therearound.

6. ln a lath-house, the combination of: a stationary lath panel comprising aplurality of spaced, parallel laths o f channel-shaped cross section facing outwardly relative to the interior of said Vlath house, the widths of said laths of said stationary lathpanel being substantially equal to the widths of the spaces therebetween; a movable lath panel adjacent and parallel to said stationary lath panel and comprising a plurality of spaced, parallel laths of channel-shaped cross section facing outwardly relative to the-interior of said lath house, said laths of said movable lath panel being parallel to said laths of said stationary lath-panel, the widths of said laths of said movable lath panel being substantially equal to the widths of the spaces therebetween and being substantially equal to the widths of said laths of said stationary lath panel; and means mounting said movable lath panel for movement relative to said stationary lath panel in a direction normal to said laths oi: said panels from a position wherein said laths of said movable lath panel are in registerwith said laths of said stationary lath panel to a position wherein said laths of said movable lath panel are in register with the spaces between said laths of said stationary lath panel, said mounting means including means for moving said movable lath panel toward said stationary lath panel concurrently with movement of said movable lath panel from the Vposition first defined to the position last defined.

7. In a lath house, the combination of: a stationary lath panel comprising a plurality of spaced, parallel laths of channel-shaped cross section facing outwardly relative to the interior of said lath house, the widths of said laths of said stationary lath panel being substantially equal to the widths of the spaces therebetween; a movable lath panel adjacent and parallel to said stationary lath panel and comprising a plurality of spaced, parallel laths of channel-shaped cross section facing outwardly relative to the interior of said lath house, said laths of said movable lath panel being parallel to said laths of said stationary lath panel, the widths of said laths of said movable lath panel being substantially equal to the widths of the spaces therebetween and being substantially equal to the widths of said laths of said stationary lath panel; and means mounting said movable lath panel for movement relative to said stationary lath panel in a direction vnormal to said laths of said panels from a position wherein said laths of said movable lath panel are in register with said laths of said stationary lath panel to a position wherein `said'lathsof said movable lath panel are .in register with the spaces between said laths of said stationary lath panel, said mounting means including a plurality of links pivotable relative to said stationary ,lath panel and pivotally connected to said movable lath panel, whereby said movable lath panel Amoves toward said stationary lath panel in response to movement of said movable lath panel from the position viirst delined to the position last defined.

f8. In a lath house, the combination of: a stationary lath panel comprising a plurality of spaced, parallel laths offchannel-shaped cross section facing outwardly relative to the interior of said lath house, the'widths of said laths of said stationary lath panel being substantially equal to the widths of the spaces therebetween; a movable l lath panel adjacent and parallel to said stationary lath panel and'co'mprising a plurality of spaced, parallel laths :of channel-shaped .cross section facing ,outwardly relative tpthe interior-,of said lathfliouse, said laths of said nigvable vlath panel being parallel toeaidlaths ofsaid Astationary lath panel, the widths @f said laths of said. movable lath panel-being substantially equal to-the widths of the spaces therebetween and 'being substantially equal to A the widths ot said laths o f said stationary-lath panel; and means mountingsaid movable lath panel for movement relative -to said stationary lath panel Vin a direction normal to saiddaths of said panels from a-position-wherein said laths of said movable lath panel are in register with said laths of said stationarylath panel toa position where- 4in said laths ofsaid `movable lath panel are in register withtbe spaces between saidlaths of said stationary-lath panel, said mounting meansincludipg aplurality of rollers fixed lrelative -to said stationary lath-panel and engaging tracks carried by saidmovable lath panel, said tracks being channels which face inwardly relative to the interiotof said lath house and in which `said rollers are disposed.

9. ln a lath house, -the combination of: a stationary lath panelcomprising a plurality of spaced,parallel laths of channel-shaped cross section facing outwardly relative to the interior of said lath house, the widths of said laths of said stationary lath panel being -substantiallyequalrto the widths of the spaces therebetween; a movable lath panel adjacent and parallel to said stationary lath panel and vcomprising a plurality of spaced, parallel laths of channel-shaped cross section facing outwardly relative to the interior of said lath house,.said laths of said movable lath panel being parallelto said laths ofsaid stationary lath panel, the .widths of saidlaths ofv said movable lath panel being substantially equal to the widths of the spaces therebetween and being substantially equal to the widths of `said laths of said stationary lath panel; and means mounting said movable lath panel for movement relative to said stationary lath panel in a direction normal to said laths of said panels from a-position wherein said laths of said movable lath panel are in register with said laths of said stationary lath panel to a position wherein said laths of said movable lath panel are in register with the spaces between said laths of said stationary lath panel, said mountingmeans including avplurality of rollers fixed relative to said stationary lath panel and engaging tracks carried by said movable lath panel, said tracks comprising rods respectively extending along the edges of said movable lath panel and around which the ends of said laths of said movable lath panel are looped.

l0. -In a lath structure, the combination of: a stationary lath panel comprising a plurality of spaced, parallel laths; a movable lath panel adjacent and parallel to said stationary lath panel and comprising a plurality of spaced, parallel laths, said laths of said ,movable lath panel being parallel to said laths of said `stationary llath panel; and means mounting said movable lath panel for movement relative to said stationary lath panel in a direction normal to said Vlaths of said panels from a position wherein said laths of said movable lath panel are in register with said laths of said stationary lath panel to a position wherein said laths of said movable lath panel are in register with the spaces between said laths of said stationary lath panel, l,said mounting Ameans including means for moving said movable lath panel toward said stationary lath panel concurrently with movement of said movable lath panel from theposition tirst defined to the position last defined.

References Cited in the-file of Athis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

